Jessica Rodriguez, Managing Editor, Puerto Rican

Jessica Rodriguez, Managing Editor, Puerto Rican

"A child of the Americas/A light-skinned mestiza of the Caribbean/A child of many diaspora, born into this continent at a crossroads." (Ending Poem by Rosario Morales and Aurora Levins Morales)

When I was 16 and figuring out my cultural identity, I stumbled across this poem in an anthology. The lines, and the Puerto Rican and Nuyorican poets that wrote them, perfectly articulated my emotions and affirmed that my in-between otherness was real. My culture's literature and storytelling tradition not only make me proud but have influenced my life choices.

Eduardo Ramos, Guy Blogger, Cuban-American

Eduardo Ramos, Guy Blogger, Cuban-American

I owe everything to my family and our culture. Being raised knowing your family left their home in hopes of a better future as the political climate and society became tumultuous, leaves you with a lot of questions and a lot of photographs. Having the opportunity to go to Cuba, and meet all those family members I had only seen in photos was mind blowing. Within minutes of arrival, nothing about me being from "La Yuma" (USA) meant anything. It was all smiles, hugs, food, music, rum and cafe. "Oye, Eduard, metete en la ducha que nos vamos a la fiesta asere!" I was family and they certainly made me feel that way. Eso es ser Cubano.